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The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the main judicial organ of the United Nations with a mission to decide disputes between voluntarily participating member states. The International Criminal Court, which will enter into force in July 2002, will be a permanent court for trying individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Prior to creation ot the International Criminal Court, various ad hoc international tribunals have been convened from time to time to prosecute humanitarian crimes.
- See also:
World > International human rights- Courts & judicial process
International
Court of Justice (ICJ)
The International Court of
Justice (or World Court), seated in The Hague, Netherlands, was
created in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations to be
the UN's principal judicial organ. The Court decides international
disputes submitted to it by member states in accordance with
international law, and international organs and agencies are
entitled to call upon it for advisory opinions. Participation
by member states in a proceeding is voluntary, but participating
states are obliged to comply with decisions of the Court.
- International Court of Justice (mirror site). Mirrored at Cornell Law Library at Cornell University.
International
Criminal Court (ICC)
The International Criminal
Court will be a permanent court for trying individuals accused
of most serious breaches of international humanitarian and human
rights law -- genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,
including widespread murder of civilians, torture and mass rape.
Formal establishment of the ICC required ratification by 60 countries
of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This
event took place on April 11, 2002, when the simultaneous ratification
of the ICC by 10 nations brought total ratifications to 66. The
ICC will enter into force on July 1, 2002. It will have jurisdiction
to prosecute only those crimes committed on or after that date
within one of the ratifying countries, by a national of a ratifying
country, or when referred to it by the UN Security Council.
- NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court. Primary NGO provider of online information about the ICC, including a detailed ratification status database.
- Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. U.N. documents related to the establishment of the ICC, include a ratification status database.
United States and
the ICC
President Bill Clinton
signed the Rome Statute of the ICC shortly before leaving office
in 2000; however, the U.S. Senate has not ratified the Rome Statute.
The Bush Administration opposes creation of the ICC, and as of
April 11, 2002, the U.S. government was considering "unsigning"
the Rome Statute. There is nonetheless support in the U.S. for
U.S. ratification of and participation in the International Criminal
Court.
- American NGO Coalition for the ICC (AMICC). Coalition of non-governmental organizations committed to achieving full United States support for the ICC. AMICC has an informational mailing list.
- Washington Working Group on the International Criminal Court (WICC). Coordinating group of the Washington legislative and governmental affairs offices of American non-governmental organizations committed to the cause of the ICC.
- U.S.A. for the International Criminal Court. Organization for building American support for the ICC.
- International Student Coalition for the International Criminal Court. U.S.-based student member of the NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court.
International
tribunals
Prior to the creation
of the International Criminal Court, which will be a permanent
court, temporary ad hoc courts for prosecution of genocide, crime
against humanity, and war crimes have been established at various
times, perhaps most famously the Nuremburg Tribunal which prosecuted
Nazi war crimes immediately after World War 2. Currently international
tribunals have been convened to prosecute crimes in the former
Yugoslavia and in Rwanda during recent periods of war and unrest.
Balkans
- International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Established by United Nations Security Council resolution 827 passed on 25 May 1993 in the face of the serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. Located in The Hague, Netherlands.
- War Crimes Tribunal Watch. A resource of the Balkans Pages.
- Court TV: War Crimes Tribunal Documents
Rwanda
- International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Established by the United Nations for the prosecution of persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian lawcommitted in the territory of Rwanda between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994. Located in Arusha, Tanzania.
Other international courts & tribunals
- European Court of Human Rights. Examines complaints from persons claiming infringement of their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. See also International human rights.